Education I 163
The Administration introduced two rounds of matching grant schemes of $1 billion each in 2003 and 2005 to broaden the funding sources of the eight institutions and strengthen their fund-raising capabilities. The $1 billion matching grant was fully allocated in the first scheme, which ended in 2004, and the institutions secured a total of more than $1.3 billion in private donations. The second scheme will be completed in early 2006.
At present, 14 500 first-year, first-degree places are available in institutions funded by the UGC, equivalent to about 18 per cent of the relevant age group of 17 to 20. For the 2005-06 academic year, UGC-funded institutions have also provided an additional 840 senior year places for graduates of sub-degree programmes and people with other qualifications. A further 48 per cent of people in the same age group were given access to other local or overseas higher education opportunities (for example, sub-degree programmes, vocational training, and overseas university programmes). The overall post-secondary participation rate for the 17 to 20 age group increased from 33 per cent in the 2000-01 academic year to 66 per cent in the 2005-06 academic year.
Degrees up to doctorate level awarded locally are widely recognised by institutions of higher learning around the world. All UGC-funded institutions have well-established quality assurance mechanisms and the academic standards of their programmes are guaranteed by, inter alia, the institutions' appointment of external examiners from prominent overseas universities and colleges. The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation validates courses and programmes offered by higher education institutions that are not self-accrediting.
Adult Education
The Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses is implemented for adult learners attending evening senior secondary course (Secondary 4 to 7) operated by the approved course operator in designated centres, providing 3 600 places each year. The Government also subvented a variety of adult education programmes operated by non-governmental organisations, offering a total of 17 486 places.
Quality Education Fund
The Quality Education Fund was established in 1998 with an allocation of $5 billion to support worthwhile initiatives that promote quality education and schemes that give recognition to schools and teachers with excellent performance. By year- end, the fund had made nine calls for applications and approved up to the eighth call a total of over $3.18 billion for 5 802 projects. In addition to funding projects, the fund also promotes and disseminates good practices distilled from funded projects through various means and collaborates with interested parties from the business sector in an attempt to leverage the market force to more effectively disseminate quality project deliverables.
Students' Achievement
In 2005, Hong Kong students continued to shine in cross-regional competitions, particularly in mathematics, science, arts and sports contests. In mathematics and